Reply to "Aston Martin Vantage"

I love the Vantages, but you definitely need to drive one first. Are they slow cars? No, but a similarly priced or cheaper GTR will drive circles around them.
I would put the V8 Vantages I have driven on par speed wise with my fairly stock C5 Corvette convertible. They have a bit of a doggy reputation motor wise because their peak power is up in the higher rev range, but even the slowest ones have 380 hp. I haven't driven a V12 Vantage yet, but I have driven a DB9, and that V12 has wonderful torque and a great growl. The V8 sounds good when you get on it as well.
Transmission wise, the manual is a little clunky shifting but has a reputation as a solid tranny. The auto doesn't have as good of a reputation but I haven't heard a lot of horror stories like the auto they used to put in the DB9's. Aston had to actually refit manual trannies to some of the DB9's to make owners happy. The V8 auto is not the same as the DB9's.
I personally think they are much better looking than the Jags, but most of the general public won't know the difference.
Price wise, you can get a brand new 2012 convert V8 for $125,000. I think low mileage used Vantages are some of the best bargains available right now. They upped the power and displacement in 2009.
Supercharging is available aftermarket and ESX wants about $28,000 list for the turnkey kit, installation and tuning. There was actually an ESX supercharged 2007 V8 on ebay a couple of weeks ago in Dallas with a buy it now of $74,888 that was intriguing to me. They didn't show any bids so they might still have it. Let me know and I can send you the link if you are interested.
The V8 Vantage is a wonderful, civilized well balanced car to drive. It is classy. It won't win many stoplight drag races, but that's not what it's for. Like my Pantera, I can't stop smiling while I'm driving one.
As far as your Targa, that is one of the very few Pantera's that I wouldn't significantly modify.
It will be interesting to see your impression after driving one.
Mike